'Fifty Shades': Before Hunnam and Johnson, was there Gosling?

By Breeanna Hare, CNN

Updated 2140 GMT (0540 HKT) September 5, 2013

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Photos:Casting 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

Casting 'Fifty Shades of Grey' – OK "Fifty Shades of Grey" fans, it looks like some of you have gotten your wish. Charlie Hunnam will not be playing Christian Grey in the big-screen adaptation of E.L. James' best-selling novel. You can once again start fantasizing about who might snag the role instead. Here are a few names that have come up.

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Photos:Casting 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

Matt Bomer – Lots of people believed "White Collar's" Matt Bomer would have made a great Christian Grey. (The actor appears as a stripper in "Magic Mike," so we figured he'd be down for some on-screen BDSM.)

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Photos:Casting 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

Garrett Hedlund – Garrett Hedlund steamed up the screen in "Tron: Legacy" and "Troy." He definitely has the looks for the role.

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Photos:Casting 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

Ian Somerhalder – The devilish look of Ian Somerhalder has served him well on the TV series "The Vampire Diaries." He could bring that to the role.

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Photos:Casting 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

Ryan Gosling – Need we plead our case for Ryan Gosling?

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Wes Bentley – With "The Hunger Games" under his belt, Wes Bentley could have taken on the role.

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Photos:Casting 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

Chris Pine – He's shown his range from "This Means War" to "People Like Us," so we know Chris Pine could have taken on Grey.

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Photos:Casting 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

Chris Hemsworth – If new dad Chris Hemsworth isn't too busy wielding Thor's hammer to take part, he could have easily stepped into Grey's shoes.

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Story highlights

Many actors were rumored to be in consideration for "Fifty Shades"

Ryan Gosling, Garrett Hedlund and Shailene Woodley were among them

The two starring roles ended up going to Dakota Johnson and Charlie Hunnam

Some fans of the books have criticized the choices

Not everyone's pleased with Dakota Johnson and Charlie Hunnam in the starring roles in "Fifty Shades of Grey," but the bigger-name stars fans have been clamoring for reportedly weren't all that interested.

We already know Armie Hammer and Emma Watson were definitively not interested, with both nearly sneering at the thought. Even Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the husband of "Fifty Shades" director Sam Taylor-Johnson, diplomatically excused himself from any casting rumors.

"I'd love to work with Sam again, no question, without a doubt," the "Kick-Ass" actor said. "I think she's such an incredible director, and she's got such an incredible vision. And especially for something like this, (which) she can do -- no pun intended -- with her hands tied behind her back and blindfolded."

But for him, the role of the charismatic, handsome and domineering billionaire just didn't "fit the bill."

And according to The Hollywood Reporter, preferential choices Ryan Gosling and Garrett Hedlund also passed on the project.

Fans have not rallied around the idea of Hunnam as Christian Grey and have offered another suggestion: Matt Bomer. (The "White Collar" actor has since said that while he appreciates the support, Hunnam's staying put.)

Some readers of E.L. James' best-selling S&M-themed trilogy haven't been thrilled with the idea of Johnson as Anastasia Steele, the naive college student who takes up with Grey. In their eyes, Alexis Bledel would be far better for the role, but THR notes that it was Shailene Woodley studio Universal had eyes for.

So with Johnson and Hunnam being the choices -- and "there is a lot that goes into casting that isn't just looks. Talent, availability, their desire to do it, chemistry with other actor, etc.," "Fifty Shades" producer Dana Brunetti tweeted -- the next best thing the "Fifty Shades" team can do is knock the adaptation, written by Kelly Marcel, out of the park.

"Handled correctly, 'Fifty Shades' could catapult Johnson and Hunnam to the A-list," The Hollywood Reporter predicts. "If it fails, it could end up like 'Showgirls,' whose star, Elizabeth Berkley, never recovered."